E-MAIL IS BECOMING A MORE POPULAR WAY TO REACH CONGRESS

WASHINGTON -- Since the nation's birth, constituent gripes about the
federal government have been answered with the same retort: Write a letter
to your Congress member.

But as the nation makes another step closer to the 21st Century, a growing
number of constituents are using a more instant way to get their points
across to their members of Congress: electronic mail.

Over the last year, constituent correspondence through e-mail has swelled
as Capitol Hill has increasingly added computers as a means to interact
with constituents in districts close at hand or thousands of miles away.

As recently as three years ago, less than half the House members had e-mail
addresses. Today, all but eight of the 435 offices can be reached by
computer. Congressional offices with e-mail addresses report receiving up
to 10 electronic messages a week from constituents.

``It's so much easier than snail mail,'' said Brad Pullins, a Bloomington,
Ind. engineer who frequently sends e-mail to his Republican Congressman,
John Hostettler of Indiana's 8th District. ``I'm just letting them know
that people are out here paying attention.''

Because only one in four American households is linked to the computer and
Internet, e-mail hasn't replaced more conventional means of contacting
Congress, such as phone calls or letters. But an increasing number of
voters are logging onto their computers to keep an eye on legislators.

In the last year alone, access to the House of Representatives home page
has tripled to 9.5 million a month.

``It's more expeditious than a letter because the topic could be something
that you're voting on that day,'' said Anthony Hulen, spokesman for
Republican Congressman Ed Whitfield of Kentucky's 1st District. ``It's a
sign of the times.''

On the Senate side, all 100 members can be reached through electronic mail.
Among the information that constituents can obtain from Senator computer
web sites is a maple oatmeal cookie recipe from Republican Sen. Judd Gregg
of New Hampshire to links for political ideological pages, such as Town
Hall, a conservative site.

A year ago, Hostettler's office started its own computer web site.
Constituents can go to the page and obtain information that includes what
legislation the second-term Republican is supporting.

Hostettler's page also contains automatic links to federal offices such as
the Library of Congress and the White House. An estimated 600 to 800
computer owners visit the site each month.

But the growth of computer interaction does have its downside. Because of
the easy access, Congress members complain that interests groups mounting
lobbying efforts can easily flood the system.

``We get a lot from the Legalize Marijuana group,'' said Holly Baker,
spokeswoman for Democratic Congressman Lee Hamilton of Indiana's 9th
District. ``They're really into e-mail.''

Hamilton and other Congress members make it a point only to respond to
e-mail from their districts. And the House of Representatives web site
contains a ZIP code entry that prohibits e-mail's going to a member unless
its from his or her district.

Over the last few years, Congressional offices on Capitol Hill have
upgraded and installed 15,900 personal computers. As that number increases,
legislators say e-mail will become more of the norm than the exception in
contacting Congress in the 21st Century.

``For those who have it, it's a quick and easy way to get information to
and from Congress,'' Baker said.

© Copyright 1998 Scripps Howard News Service.